An era ended Sunday night when TCU and head coach Gary Patterson mutually parted ways.

Patterson became the head coach of TCU in 2000 and amassed a 181-79 record during that time. The Horned Frogs were only 21-22 and 13-19 in Big 12 play since 2018, and it was clear that TCU needed to move in a different direction or risk falling further behind Baylor and SMU. 

TCU fell to 3-5 in 2021 with a 31-12 loss at Kansas State on Saturday. The Horned Frogs are on a three-game losing streak and have lost five of their last six games, which included home losses to SMU, Texas, and West Virginia. The teams only win since Sept. 11 was a victory on Oct. 9 over Texas Tech, a school that’s also fired its coach. 

Patterson is the winningest coach in TCU history and there is a statue of him already outside of Amon G. Carter Stadium. He’s a legend who helped usher TCU football, and its athletic program, into the modern era and into the Big 12. Patterson coached TCU to titles in three different conferences (Conference USA, Mountain West, Big 12) and won numerous coaching awards at the conference and national level. 

"The story of Gary Patterson and hte rise in the fortunes of the TCU football program over the last 0 years is clearly one of the most remarkable in the history of college football," TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati said in a statement. "We are grateful to Gary and Kelsey Patterson and appreciate everything they have meant to TCU and the Fort Worth community."

Patterson reportedly made over $5 million dollars a year, but the budget and list of names for the Horned Frogs are unknown because more than two decades past since the last time TCU needed to hire a head coach. Patterson was hired from within but expect the net to be casted wider. SMU head coach Sonny Dykes is a local candidate who knows how to recruit the DFW area. UTSA and head coach Jeff Traylor signed an extension through 2031 that includes a $7.5 million dollar buy out.  

Assistant head coach Jerry Kill will be the interim head coach for TCU for the remainder of the season..